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2008 28 October :: 2.06 pm
:: Music: Led Zeppelin - Since I Been Loving You
My dad sent this article to me and some of my uncles today:
http://www.ornery.org/essays/warwatch/2008-10-05-1.html
My response: Looking at the recipient list just now, I found myself playing a game of "one of these is not like the other." I do appreciate the opposing viewpoint though. Mr. Card actually had me for a while, up until he started engaging in the same mean-spirited mudslinging and finger-pointing that he accuses our Congress of. To tell you the truth, I'm still boggled we're having this discussion when it comes to our Congress. The Democrats took it over four years ago and have gotten about as much done as the former occupants. It seems, at this point, we should be able to agree on one thing: that the majority of our elected officials are about as effective as the Detroit Lions (please note that this has been the true for both for approximately the same period of time). I can tell you one thing that your favorite bleeding-heart liberal nephew/son believes: he wouldn't have voted for that bailout plan if he was given the chance. God forbid the lenders (and the homeowners, for that matter) take responsibility for getting us into this mess. Then again, this in some way probably highlights my naive ignorance when it comes to macro-economics... I really gotta take a class in that stuff.
I can tell you one (other) thing though, it's never been a better time to be a poor graduate student living in one of the most expensive urban hubs in the U.S. Economic crisis? What economic crisis?
Oh, by the way, you can't give much credence to anything that Orson Scott Card guy says. He writes sci-fi. I read a book he edited about 'Lost.' Seriously. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orson_Scott_Card What, are we going to start looking to Kurt Vonnegut for political viewpoints now? ;-)
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2008 24 October :: 11.36 am
:: Mood: rhetorical
I was talking to a student today who has shown up for only a handful of classes this semester and who is serious jeopardy of not passing if they choose to stick with the class as opposed to withdrawing. I felt like I was taking an empathic, but firm, stance on their performance thus far in the class. Then, after the student left, the instructor after me remarked about how nice I was to the student, and that she is a lot tougher/meaner in those situations. Normally, I would have felt discouraged by that, but I'm finally to a point to where I'm comfortable enough in that it just felt more ironic than anything else. It's true, though... except in very rare cases where they really piss me off, I don't know how to be an asshole. I blame my upbringing for my inability to be a true sonuvabitch while in a position of authority. On the other side, I've been on the other side on the coin for most of my life, and I know, or at least believe, that management by intimidation and outright dick-age doesn't work that well either. Where's that thin line between democratic, authoritarian, and outright pushover? I'm still learning. I guess we all are.
Another question: Where's that line between resolute and stubborn? I've always believed in upholding your values, whatever they may be, but when it comes at the cost of everything else, when do you just give in, mostly because that thing just doesn't matter to you enough to get all bend out of shape over? I know I'm sounding overly dramatic, and it's not meant to be. Once again, this is just me evaluating my own behavior, trying to strike that perfect balance. Funny me, I keep thinking an evenhanded temperament is the true key to an utopian society.
In any event, my stomach is screaming at me. Time to feed the beast.
P.S. The titles for the first six episodes of Season 5 are out, and are as tantalizing as usual. Check them out behind the cut. And if you don't know what show I'm talking about, maybe you should take another look at my journal background.
I just finished the house-cleaning of my Gmail account that's been ongoing for a little while now.
I now have a mere 66 total messages, which has to be an all-time low since I started teaching.
Meanwhile, I have 462 messages in my trash...
I find it amazing that if I go in the hallway of our apartment and walk down all the way to the other end of the building (approximately 50 feet), I can still clearly hear my iTunes playing. And yet, we've never received a complaint about the noise. For that reason alone, I'm not sure I ever want to move.
Lost Character Cup
So, as one of my new Lost-hiatus pastimes, I entered into DarkUFO's (www.darkufo.blogspot.com) March-Madness style tournament where you predict user-favorite Lost characters, and the winner gets a copy of the Season 4 set. They recently finished a similar contest for favorite Episodes, but my predictions were a bit off on that one. I am proud to say, however, that I ended up 33rd (out of 1214 users) for the Character Cup. Alas, I don't have anything to show for it, but it's nice to know I know my Lost characters.
So this is what live blogging is like...
I gotta hand it to you, John (or better yet, your campaign managers).
- You waited less than 12 hours (!!) to quell the enthusiasm of Obama's speech to announce your VP pick; I've seen vultures work slower than that. You go steal those headlines, John! Show them how politics is about the people, and not just a game!
- Your pick is a plain-spoken (anagram pun intended), middle-aged female governor from Alaska who shares a name with one of the funniest Monty Python members. Kudos on your successful Hilary-cloning experiment, John! And nice touch picking a brunette... nobody will catch on to that one!
- Not only does your VP pick come from a state whose capital is Juneau (totally boss), she's got a son in the military! Take that, Obama! Michelle, you better ship one of the cute little girls of yours off ASAP.
Standing up to 'politics as usual,' eh? You show them, John. You show them exactly what we are trying to get away from.
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2008 21 July :: 4.28 pm
:: Mood: nostalgic
:: Music: Stars - One More Night
So, there's been official word that they're will be a new 'Lost' ARG (alternative reality game) set to begin at this year's ComicCon in San Diego. Supposedly, they will 'recruiting' Dharma Initiative members. This thing looks to blow the 'Find 815' ARG out of the water. I'm so jealous I'm not going, but at the same time I'm totally excited for another Lost-related time waster. If only this pesky school thing would stay away a little longer.
Summer's already half over, which depresses me. With every day, it's harder to not think about having to go back. I probably should be doing more with my time off, though, as usual, I don't feel like the summer is being wasted. And I finally got a draft of my predisseration turned in, and by this time point next year I finally should have a couple articles to my name, so it's not all bad.
We hosted our second poker night yesterday at the apartment. I had a lot of fun and things went a little faster and a little smoother than last time. And I finally won for a change. Thanks to everyone who came.
I'm off to the library to pick up some more reading material, as if I needed it. If I get inspired, maybe I'll share my "to read' list. That, or I'll enter back into radio silence for another 6 months. Guess we'll have to wait and see together.
(edit 5:32pm) Based on his already impressive resume, especially considering his relatively young age, I'm naming Christian Bale the best actor of his generation. I'm not even going to look at his competition, because I'm fairly confident I don't need to.
E.B. White - Here is New York
"There are roughly three New Yorks. There is, first, the New York of the man or woman who was born there, who takes the city for granted and accepts its size, its turbulence as natural and inevitable. Second, there is the New York of the commuter--the city that is devoured by locusts each day and spat out each night. Third, there is the New York of the person who was born somewhere else and came to New York in quest of something. Commuters give the city its tidal restlessness, natives it solidity and continuity, but settlers give it passion."
Things I Currently Fancy
Things That Rock - MI Visit Edition
- free Meijer grocery trips
- Lemonade ICEEs
- My Morning Jacket CDs
- Cinnamon Fire Twizzlers
- 80 degree temperatures
- Clementine Izzes (in a bottle!)
- Ludington/MI Adventure trips
BOTB 14
40) the kooks - she moves in her own way
39) foo fighters - let it die
38) the white stripes - icky thump
37) rilo kiley - the moneymaker
36) eels - old shit/new shit
35) modest mouse - parting of the sensory
34) we are scientists - it's a hit
33) r.e.m. - supernatural superserious
32) arcade fire - keep the car running
31) a fine frenzy - rangers
30) spoon - don't you evah
29) the decemberists - o valencia!
28) the white stripes - rag & bone
27) grinderman - no pussy blues
26) radiohead - faust arp
25) dave matthews & tim reynolds - eh hee
24) bright eyes - hot knives
23) the shins - phantom limb
22) foo fighters - the pretender
21) david gray - you're the world to me
20) eddie vedder - hard sun
19) stars - take me to the riot
18) bruce springsteen - girls in their summer clothes
17) the shins - sea legs
16) feist - 1, 2, 3, 4
15) rilo kiley - silver lining
14) nick cave & the bad seeds - we call upon the author to explain
13) glados & jonathan coulton - still alive
12) arcade fire - (antichrist television blues)
11) a fine frenzy - almost lover
10) glen hansard & marketa irglova - falling slowly
9) peter bjorn & john - young folks
8) death cab for cutie - i will possess your heart
7) sia - breathe me
6) johnathan rice - we're all stuck out in the desert
5) nick cave & the bad seeds - dig, lazarus, dig!!!
4) eels - souljacker, pt. 1
3) the decemberists - the perfect crime #2
2) silverchair - straight lines
1) spoon - the underdog
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2008 1 April :: 2.21 pm
:: Mood: accomplished
:: Music: Arcade Fire - (Antichrist Television Blues)
Best of 2007
This is hella late, and I still have a few flicks to pick up from Netflix, but I figured I shouldn't wait any longer.
Top Movies of 2007
1. There Will Be Blood
2. Ratatouille
3. Once (2006)
4. The Darjeeling Limited
5. Juno
6. No Country for Old Men
7. God Grew Tired of Us (2006)
8. I Am Legend
9. Knocked Up
10. The Bourne Ultimatum
11. American Gangster
12. Breach
13. Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix
14. Zodiac
15. The Simpsons Movie
Top CDs of 2007
1. Arcade Fire :: Neon Bible
2. Modest Mouse :: We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
3. A Fine Frenzy :: One Cell in the Sea
4. Radiohead :: In Rainbows
5. Johnathan Rice :: Further North
6. The Shins :: Wincing the Night Away
7. The Decemberists :: The Crane Wife (2006)
8. The White Stripes :: Icky Thump
9. Spoon :: Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
10. Grinderman (2006)
11. Bright Eyes :: Cassadaga
12. Foo Fighters :: Echoes, Silence, Patience, & Grace
13. Once Soundtrack
14. Rilo Kiley :: Under the Blacklight
15. Silverchair :: Young Modern
To MSU fans everywhere:
Wanna help put Sparty on the cover of a video game? EA Sports is allowing fans to vote for their favorite mascot; the winner will be featured on the cover of the Wii version of NCAA Football '09. According to the site, Sparty is currently in second place behind Washington State (can't let them win... I don't even recognize theirs!). That means we need a good push to get him into first! The problem is that voting closes on Friday, so make sure to forward this to all of your MSU friends. You can vote once per day from each computer you are using. Here's the site:
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2007 28 November :: 9.50 am
:: Music: Eve 6 - Open Road Song
with every turn comes a new frame of mind/if I could frame my mind/where would it hang?
I'm starting to think I treat my life like a newly minted car. Here's why:
Often, I'd rather leave it in the garage instead of taking it out for a spin.
I always to protect what I have instead of enjoying it.
I become obsessed with the slightest blemish and spend too much effort trying to buff it out instead of looking at the big picture.
While I don't mind showing people around, I'm careful about who I let in.
I'd not that I can't go on the offensive if I have no other choice, but usually I'd rather stay off to the side to avoid the risk.
I'm so concerned with running things at the most optimal level, never realizing that, in time, things will fall apart no matter I do.
Whenever I strip everything away and realize what I'm behind the wheel of, I see what a gift I have. But I have to realize that you don't buy a Beamer to sit in the slow lane. I may come out the other side with a few more blemishes, but it's a small price to pay to avoid being stuck in first gear for the rest of my life.
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2007 9 October :: 12.34 pm
:: Mood: nostalgic
:: Music: Radiohead - Let Down
So they are doing construction on campus, which is a major pain in the arse because it's right along the path I walk every day. Anyway, I was on my way to the Science Bldg. and I passed a construction worker sitting in the shade, relaxing and enjoying his lunch. I was immediately brought back to the summer of '01 working at Arrow Door, sitting outside with Chris, Fras, and Co. I remember jumping in line with everyone at the food cart outside, and the day Stashia and Christa brought us lunch. I hated that job, but sitting outside in the shade, cooling off from the stagnating heat in and outside the building, all the while savoring every last moment of freedom before returning to the floor, that's a fond memory.
ELMHURST, IL—"The wife and I sure had some crazy times on that thing before we had the baby," said Nathan Moscone, hanging his suit jacket on the swing.
Updated Director List
1. Stanley Kubrick (+1)
2. Steven Spielberg (-1)
3. Alfred Hitchcock (+3)
4. Paul Thomas Anderson (-1)
5. Wes Anderson (-1)
6. Quentin Tarantino (-1)
7. Christopher Nolan (+8)
8. Martin Scorsese (--)
9. David Fincher (-2)
10. Michael Mann (-2)
11. Pedro Almodóvar (--)
12. Sam Mendes (-3)
13. Spike Lee (-1)
14. Terry Gilliam (--)
15. Jonathan Demme (-5)
